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Thursday, December 31, 2015

For me the highlight of 2015 was the Sew Mama Sew sewing competition over the summer. Thank you again Sew Mama Sew for hosting the competition and thank you Janome and all of the fabric and indie pattern designers for sponsoring it. I loved receiving fabric and patterns to make each week. Then to share the process with you was a complete joy. I learned so much about sew garments for myself. What an adventure!

Girl, you knocked this phase of the challenge out of the park. You OWNED this. Your PJ's look absolutely fabulous and totally like you picked them up in a New York boutique! And the idea of Ice Cream Jammies? MONEY! If you have the time, you'd have steady orders in an Etsy shop. I have the Carolyn pattern and I hope mine turn out as well as yours. Love the bows. :) Too cute! on Mint Chocolate Chip Carolyn Pajamas, Round Four Challenge

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Did you just get a new sewing machine? Now you are looking through site after site just to find the perfect starter projects. Here is a collection of easy and great projects for anyone who wants to start a quick project with your wonderful new sewing machine.

Sunday, December 27, 2015

After receiving so many wonderful gifts, I wanted to have my kids write thank you notes to our family and friends. It means so much to receive a nice thank you note in the mail. To some it is proper etiquette to say Thank you. I decided to make it a little easier and I placed a few prompts to help them along. We used color pencils and drew around the borders. Please feel free to print some of these out using the link below. It will allow you to download it to your computer.
Give Thanks!

Thursday, December 24, 2015

We are getting a new puppy!! Yah! We have found a Shetland Sheepdog. He is super cute and lovable. Can't wait to take him home, he is only 3.5 weeks. I am trying to learn everything I need to know before he arrives January 14, 2016. If you have any tips please let me know. Can't believe I will be a fur-mommy soon!

Wednesday, December 23, 2015

If you are wondering how to make your own wardrobe, you need to start by selecting sewing patterns that are staples already in your current ready wear wardrobe. Think about what you wear most. For me it is skirts, knit dresses, pants/jeans and t-shirts. I am a mom, teacher and casual dresser. I wear dresses occasionally in the spring and summer. After seeing what the majority of my wardrobe looked like, I was able to find sewing patterns in the style of garments that I loved to wear. Making your own wardrobe allows you to create your own look. You can also adapt patterns for your size and build. I am 5'1" so I am classified as a petite. In the department stores if I buy petite clothes the pants are actually too short but in the regular section, all of the pants are too long. Being able to adapt the sewing patterns I buy to fit me makes me super happy!!!

1.) What are the clothes I wear the most? (Current Staples)

2.) What look do I want to have? (Classic, Casual, Preppy)

3.) What sizing issues do I have with ready wear garments? (Body Type)

Fabrics

After choosing patterns you need to think high quality fabrics. Fabric choices also depend on the season. I use most of these patterns throughout the year but I use different fabrics as the seasons change. In the summer months, I use cotton for my skirts but in the winter/ fall seasons I use corduroy or heavyweight textiles. For my knit dresses I use ponte de roma knit but in the winter/ fall months I might use terry knit fabric.

You can also choose fabrics that coordinate well with each other so you can mix and match different garments together. When choosing your fabrics for garments remember to think about what colors look best with you skin, hair and eye color. This can make your own look even more refined. I often find ready wear garments in the style I like, but the color is all wrong. Creating the right fit, style and color will make you a more confident person. Feeling good about your outer look makes you feel great inside.

1.) What season am I sewing for?

2.) What colors look best with my skin tone, hair and eye color?

3.) Do I want to coordinate fabrics so I can mix and match my handmade wardrobe?

Shopping

I still shop in the big box stores, however I look at the garments they sell differently now. I take pictures with my phone of new styles I like or fabrics I love. If I find a deal (70% or 80% discount) I might still buy the garment especially if it is cheaper than a sewing pattern. Then I take it apart and make it a sewing pattern!!!! I love to go to Goodwill but I look at each item like a fabric bolt. Each item is a repurposed possibility.

I hope these tips help you create an amazing wardrobe! What are you going to create!

Friday, December 18, 2015

Thank you for voting! Thank you Mix101.5 for hosting the choir competition and Lowes Food for sponsoring it. Our school received $1000 for our music program! We are going to buy technology and more music!! We appreciate all of the votes for our song. The students were so proud to have worked together toward one common goal.

Thursday, December 3, 2015

Thanks to all the wonderful efforts of our friends and family (and their friends and family), Neuse Charter School's fifth graders have advanced to the final round in the Mix 101.5 Christmas Choir Competition with their performance of Blitzen's Boogie. This means that they are guaranteed at least 3rd place over all and will win a minimum of $1000.00 for the school's music program. Today is the final round of the competition and our students' chance to win first place and $5000.00 for the school. It is important to note that this is not a hand picked choir like most other schools but is the ENTIRE 5th Grade. These students represent our community well and have worked hard and deserve a win!

To achieve this we need EVERYONE's help.

Please vote at the link below and encourage your friends and family to vote as well. Feel free to forward this email to family, friends and anyone who will vote for Neuse. Share it on Facebook, Twitter and anything else you can. EVERY VOTE IS IMPORTANT!Voting is open from 7:30 am to 9:00 pm (Eastern Standard Time).It is possible to vote more than once but you will need to clear your cookies on your browser. You can vote at the link below:

Saturday, November 28, 2015

I hope you will join me and shop with small businesses this Saturday and throughout the holiday season. I like to give gifts that are from the heart and handmade or small business gifts are really a wonderful way to show you care.

Friday, November 6, 2015

I love my new Antrorse Sweater. It feels soft and warm. It is also washable!!!! I think next time I wear it, I will wear my skinny jeans and boots. Each time I knit, I can see how much better I am getting because the fabric is more consistent. I have also learned how to fix mistakes. Mistakes are going to happen but if you know how to fix them, then you are better off. I still have a lot to learn but this sweater is so much better than the first time I knit this pattern.Knitting takes a lot longer for me to complete a project but I love that I can take my craftiness anywhere. I adore sewing but being able to do both knitting and sewing is wonderful.These buttons are all that I could find in my stash. I might have to look for different buttons.Yarn: Vanna's Choice, Lion's Brand, color charcoal grey.Needles: US 10.5 to get the right gauge.Buttons: Vintage metal buttons with eagles.

Saturday, October 24, 2015

The Tailgate Teammate Tote is a wonderful tote inspired to be at your favorite game, cheering for your favorite team! It is available in 3 sizes; small, medium and large. You can make them for yourself, a fan or an entire team! These totes make great Mommy and me bags too. Make one for yourself and little ones.

Monday, October 19, 2015

I have finished my Everyday Cardigan by Lisa Clarke. It has actually been done for a while because it is such a fast knitting project. I can see how you could easily make a few of these in different colors. I know I have told you that there is no button band on this cardigan but I can't tell you how wonderful it felt when I did not have to go back and make one.

The buttons are actually leather! I fell in love with the color and left the store thinking they were dark wood. However, when I got into my car I realized they were leather. Instead of returning them I decided to go with it and kept them for the project. It is a close fitting sweater and since I hardly ever button up my cardigans it works great! I think if I made this for a friend or someone else I might go up a size, just to make sure the size would be comfortable. I like my sweaters to be close fitting and I tend to wear t-shirts under my sweaters. If you wear a lot of button up shirts again you might want to size up. This is definitely one of those knitting patterns I will use over and over again. Pattern: Everyday Cardigan by Lisa ClarkeYarn:Cascade Yarns Cascade 220®Knitting Needles: Deborah Norville 32" Circular Knitting NeedlesButtons: Leather 3/4" Buttons

Thursday, October 1, 2015

There is something about the cold chill in the air that makes me want to knit a new sweater for fall. This is the Everyday Cardigan by Lisa Clarke. I love that the button holes are made as you knit the body of the sweater top to bottom. That means I don't have to go back and knit a button band!!! Yeah!

I am constantly looking for dresses I can make and wear to work. One requirement is pockets!!! I love the pockets on the Bettine Dress because they are so large and deep!! It is extremely comfy to wear and move around in. I love to look professional but I want to feel comfortable at the same time. This dress hits on all the requirements for a wonderful work dress. I think I will be able to extend the wear of this Bettine Dress through fall. I plan to wear my boots, tights and even a cute cardigan. The only adjustment I made was to the tulip skirt, it was a little too wide. The bodice was perfect! Pattern: Tilly and Buttons, Bettine DressSize: 3Fabric: Kimberly Kight, Lucky Strikes Dime Store, from Cotton and Steel

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